Broken Compass

Dear Yeti,
i feel like i have hit a wall. It comes in what seems every aspect of my life. I'm a teetering relationship guy, i don't know if i want a woman or a woman's comfort. Girls seem to take me for granted yet i've been told i too do the same when its a more serious relationship on my part. Continuing off of what i was saying before the other aspect are the roads i want to take in my career. I'm a full time college student (business), yet I'm debating if i want to join the air force to become a jet engine mechanic. On top of that i think maybe i should just change my major to psychology, finding it to be more suitable. All that or just doing what my family has told me I'm also good at; drawing, other forms of expression. Oh believe me and more... I've lived by doing what i love and what i think is right but i love a lot of things and these days who knows what's right you know? just looking for some good places for advice or advice from yourself.

Thank you,
Impatient Me

Dear Impatient Me,

As I am writing this I’m thinking how to craft my response without giving you any real answer. But I just can’t help it. The answer: get an education.

Your relationships with women are still in front of you. Youâ€™re unsure about committing to any one partner yet because the right one hasn’t come along yet. Which is probably for the best. You’ll be better off in the long run if you compile a few more crazy girlfriend stories before you hang it all up.

If youâ€™re focused on your career, it means that you take your potential very seriously. Being in business school is probably a good place to start. By the same token, a young man is not doing his part if he’s not chasing the next great adventure. The armed forces are a great way to seek discipline and explore the world. That being said, there’s good roads and bad roads leading into both these sunsets.

Just because some crew cut con artist at the Air Force recruitment center promises he’ll make you a jet mechanic doesn’t mean you are guaranteed anything. Entering the military without a college degree is a total crapshoot. I looked into it. The Army and Navy typically promote foreign born soldiers into their mechanic programs. There could be any number of reasons for this, but as I understand it, it’s a competitive position that you may not get. You could be sewing uniforms or peeling potatoes for 3 years. Sleeping your way through business school could be even worse. You could wake up one day working in the mailroom of some corporation trying to pay back 75K in student loans.

The point I’m trying to make is, it’s not just what you do â€“ it’s how you do it. Get out a sheet or paper and write down your strengths and weaknesses. Think long and hard about what you want to accomplish. Form a plan. Set goals. Meet goals. Be successful.

Many successful business men own their own planes to tinker around on, and I’ve never meet a member of the military with student loans. Any road could be the right road. The worldâ€™s your oyster, Impatient. Before you know it you’ll be staring down your middle years and all these decisions will have made you who you are.